Michigan vs Flolrida
Tampa, Florida
Jan. 1, 2003
Attendance: 65,101

Scoring by Quarter

Florida

0

16

7

7

30

Michigan

7

14

14

3

38

Michigan claimed a 38-30 victory in a back-and-forth affair against No 22 Florida
in the 2003 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.

Tailback Chris Perry earned Outback Bowl MVP honors after setting a bowl game record and a modem era Michigan bowl record with four touchdowns. Perry matched his career high with 28 carries for 85 yards and four TDs, and added a career-best six receptions for 108 yards. Quarterback John Navarre completed 21-of-36 passes for a career-high 319 yards and one TD.

Defensively, Victor Hobson sealed the win for the Wolverines with his interception on Florida's final drive. Hobson tallied a career-best 12 tackles and two tackles for loss.

Michigan took advantage of a Florida turnover as Perry scored on a four-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. U-M gained possession at the Florida three-yard line after recovering an errant shotgun snap. Florida, however, answered to take a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter on a pair of TD nins by tailback Ernest Graham.

U-M took control of the game on a 12-play scoring drive as Perry leaped over the goal line on a fourth-down play from the one-yard line. The Gators regained the lead, 16-14, with 1:37 left in the first half as placekicker Matt Leach connected on a 29-yard field goal, but Michigan responded to take a 21-16 halftime advantage as Navarre completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Bellamy with 27 seconds left.

Florida scored on its opening possession of the second half to gain a 23-21 lead. The Wolverines answered the Gators' TD and took the lead for good, 28-23, on a seven-yard TD run by Perry. U-M extended its lead to 35-23 as Perry scored his fourth TD of the game, a 12-yard run through the middle of the defense.

Florida trimmed the deficit to 35-30 with 8:21 remaining as Grossman fired a three-yard TD pass to tight end Aaron Walker.

On the Gator's next possession, a Hobson sack forced Florida to punt the ball away. U-M got the ball back at its 34-yard line and proceeded to put the game away as kicker Adam Finley connected on a 33-yard field goal for a 38-30 lead with 2:20 left.

The Gators attempted to mount one final drive to tic the game. After reaching the Wolverine 37-yard line, Florida tried a little trickery on a wide receiver reverse pass, but it was intercepted by Hobson and returned 42 yards to seal Michigan's victory.